A strand of violent, psychologically complex Westerns that appeared in the 1950s, for example, captures both changing attitudes toward the settlement of the West and the treatment of Native Americans while channeling the spirit of a country still recovering from a devastating World War. The Western is a vital genre with the habit of reinventing itself every few years that doubles as a way to talk about America’s history while reflecting on its present. Westerns thrived in the silent era, and though the genre’s popularity has ebbed and flowed ever since - largely fading from view in the ’80s but enjoy several resurgences in succeeding decades - it’s never threatened to fade away. The history of movie Westerns more or less begins with the end of the Old West itself. It’s probably safe to add the Western to that list, too, even if - like jazz and comics - the Western has roots around the globe and has since been adopted in many lands. Īmerica can only claim a few art forms as its own. This article was originally published in 2021 and has been updated to include The Power of the Dog. (2.35:1) (2 Sides) (CLV) (NTSC) LaserDisc Special FeaturesPhoto-Illustration: Maya Robinson/Vulture and Photos Courtesy of Studios, Getty Images and Shutterstock Paul Newman, Henry Fonda and Lee Remick in. Mega-Rare Factory-Sealed, Widescreen, LaserDisc Movie - No DVD Reviews, Articles, Newsletter and Information for Movies on LaserDisc LD Laser Disc, LazerDisc. Uneven pacing and failure to explore several ideas in more detail keeps Sometimes a Great Notion from being a great movie. Despite some well-done moments and performances, the movie feels flat. Michael Sarrazin is also good as the Ivy League liberal half-brother returning home. Jaeckel's unwavering smile helps to create the most powerful moment of the film, a scene in which Joe Ben is pinned between logs underwater and will drown in the rising tide unless his brother, Hank, continues to give him mouth-to-mouth. On the other hand, Richard Jaeckel hits just the right tone portraying the simple Joe Ben Stamper. He never gets the chance to explore why Henry is so defiantly selfish and willing to destroy his fellow lumberjacks. Sadly, the great Henry Fonda is a bit one-dimensional as Henry Stamper. As Hank Stamper, Newman shows why he is a star, portraying Hank as a laser beam-focused son working hard to make his old man, Henry, happy, no matter what. Newman also gets wonderful performances out of his cast, not the least of which he delivers himself. This location provides the opportunity for some sweeping shots of fallen forests and endless twisting rivers. Sometimes a Great Notion chronicles the downfall of the Stamper clan, a family of union-busting loggers with a twisted sense of pride and morality living in the back woods of Oregon. This is not to say that Paul Newman, who directed, produced, and starred in this picture, didn't make a valiant effort. While Ken Kesey's first novel, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, translated to celluloid brilliantly, his sophomore effort is far too sprawling and complex to fit on the silver screen. One of the oldest complaints in the history of film is "It's not as good as the book." Sometimes a Great Notion is no exception. An extremely dangerous effort by Fonda to float his logs to the mill via a treacherous river helps to mend the frayed family ties between himself and his sons. A series of "accidents," coupled with an outsized fistfight at an annual Lumberman's Field Day, serves to drive deeper wedges between Fonda's outfit and his rivals. Meanwhile, Fonda wages an ongoing battle with the unionized loggers in the region, who threaten reprisals should Fonda attempt to continue his business without union help. Newman has good reason to feel resentful: before long, his wife Lee Remick has entered into an affair with Sarrazin. Sarrazin's presence causes friction with Fonda, who resents his prodigal son's hippie mind-set, and Newman, who perceives Sarrazin as a threat to his own position in the family structure. Newman's half-brother Michael Sarrazin, embittered over Fonda's treatment of his late mother, returns after a ten-year absence to work in the family business. Paul Newman (who also directed) stars as the oldest son of an Oregon logging family headed by Henry Fonda. Also known as Never Give An Inch, this film was based on a novel by Ken Kesey.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |